New York Harbor, Upper Bay and Narrows

This nautical chart from 1957 depicts the upper approaches of New
York Harbor, including the narrows between Brooklyn and Staten Island. The
chart is the first to reflect the renaming of the island that houses the
Statue of Liberty from Bedloes's Island to Liberty Island.

Like all nautical charts, this chart includes information about tides,
water levels, and the shape of the coastline. Larger land features,
such as buildings, docks, roads, and railways, are prevalent on the chart. Look
closely and you'll also see that smaller land features such as flagpoles,
elevators, and gas tanks are identified. Even the torch of the Statue
of Liberty is identified! The Statue of Liberty is located on Liberty
Island, which can be found near the top center of the chart (located at
approximately 40°41'N, 74°02'W).

Historic Reference

France gave the Statue of Liberty to the United States in recognition
of the friendship established between the two countries during the American
Revolution. The statue was constructed in France, dismantled for shipping,
and re-assembled on top of an American-built pedestal located on Bedloe's
Island. The statue was dedicated on October 28, 1886, by U.S. President
Grover Cleveland.

Standing at the mouth of the Hudson River in New York Harbor, slightly
over 1.5 miles southwest of Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty has become
a symbol of freedom and welcomes all visitors, immigrants, and returning
Americans to the United States. Though the Statue of Liberty was accepted
by the United States in 1886, the island was known as Bedloe's Island
until it was officially renamed Liberty Island in 1956. This nautical
chart is the first chart to bear the island's new official name.

Chart title: New York Harbor, Upper Bay and Narrows

Author: U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey

Contributors: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Department
of the Navy (revisions and additions)